If you've been watching the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina this week, you know exactly what we're talking about. Sidney Crosby leading Team Canada. Connor McDavid dazzling on Olympic ice. Auston Matthews wearing the red, white, and blue. The NHL's best are back on the world stage, and it's everything hockey fans dreamed it would be. But here's what most people miss while watching these incredible athletes compete: the impact of international hockey isn't just reserved